Obama, Biden Reaffirm Support for Employee Free Choice Act

At Labor Day rallies, Administration says bill will pass this year

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At Labor Day rallies in
Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, President Obama and Vice President Biden today
reaffirmed their support for the Employee Free Choice Act as a top priority of
the Administration. Biden resolved to pass the legislation by the end of the
year. Their words come as Congress returns to Washington after their August
recess and support for the bill gains steam.

"Working families have much to be grateful for this Labor Day, including the
most pro-working family Administration in generations," said Service Employees
International (SEIU) President Andy Stern. "I share the Vice President's hope
and belief that real labor law reform, the kind which hasn't been seen in
decades, will pass in 2009. Finally, we'll put an end to the illegal, immoral
and just plain unfair practices that working people face every day at the
hands of their employers, purely for attempting to form a union."

The Employee Free Choice Act would allow workers to bargain with their
employers for job security, better wages and benefits.

President Obama told the Cincinnati crowd,

"That's why Secretary Solis has made it a priority at the Labor Department to
protect workers - your safety, your benefits, your right to organize and
bargain collectively. It's why some of the first executive orders I issued
overturned the previous administration's attempts to stifle organized labor.
It's why I support the Employee Free Choice Act-to level the playing field so
it's easier for employees who want a union to form a union. Because when labor
is strong, America is strong. When we all stand together, we all rise
together."

Meanwhile, Vice President Biden offered his own words of support at the annual
Pittsburgh Labor Day parade. According to the Associated Press,

"Vice President Joe Biden says labor built the middle class, and that he and
Sen. Arlen Specter will continue fighting for workers. Biden spoke at a rally
before Pittsburgh's annual Labor Day parade Monday. He assured the crowd of
about 300 that he and Specter, D-Pa., wouldn't let workers down. Biden also
said the administration will get the Employee Free Choice Act done this year."

Also today, the labor coalition group American Rights at Work launched two new
ads in support of the bill, "Fabric of America" and "We Don't Ask." The ads,
which can be viewed at americanrightsatwork.org, are part of the sustained
campaign from a broad coalition of labor and workers' rights advocates urging
lawmakers to enact this critical piece of legislation.

SOURCE SEIU

Christy Setzer of SEIU, +1-617-512-7572 (cell)